Color cinematography



Patented Mg. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATESA'PATENT or FICE.

DANIEL r. GOMSTOOK, OF'BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR To TEcimIcoLORMO- TION PICTURE QORPORATION, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETT A CORPORATION orMAINE.

COLOR CINEMATOGRAPHY. I

Application filed January 8, 1923. Serial No. 611,256.

This invention relates to the art of motion pictures and moreparticularly to the color branch of the art wherein complemental seriesof positive images, respectively representing difiterent color aspectsof. the scene, are in superposed registry on a single width film.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a method of formingcolor cinematographic film which affords the advantages of forming theoriginal complemental negatives on a single film (called a multiplexfilm) and which at the same time-avoids the difiiculties of printing'thefinal positives from a multiplex film. In one aspect the inventioninvolves mak ing a primary film in the form of a multiplex negative 1(Fig. 1) in any suitable manner (as'for example according to thedisclosure in. prior applications Serial No. 77,237. filed Feb. 9. 1916,Serial No. 415,074, filed October 6. 1920, Serial No. 415,018, filedOctober 6, 1920, Serial No. 534,055, filed Feb. 4, 1922and Serial No.544,084, filed March 16. 1922)'and before printing the final positivesreproducing on separate secondary films 2 and 3 (Fig. 2) the respectiveSeries of images in such form that the final positives 4 and 5 (Fig.3)maybe printed in a contact ,machine (such as a printer of theblack-anctwhite type adjusted for registration sufliciently accurate for1 color work) and in such form that the reform negative images.

9 ary films are spective series of final positives may be colored in anyone of a wide range of methods, indeed any method (using pigmentorchemical action or both) by which the coloring is greater or lesser asthe exposure is greater or lesser respectively. The secondpreferablvformed by printing directly from the multiplex primary film and thenreversing the positive images to By forming the secondary films fromrelatively slow small grained stock the light scatter which takes placein printing'the final positive film is less than usual when finalpositive film is printed directlyfrom the original or pri mary negativefilm. This is particularly important where the final positive film isprinted through'the back as for example in making direct relief picturefilm.

By varying the printing light in forming the secondary films therelative color values of the respective series, as well as the relaoutthe skilled attention tive intensity'of succeeding sections of eachseries, may be corrected in making. the secondary films so that inmaking the many positive reproductions the intensities and color valuesare made uniform without varying the'printing light each time andwithquired. By accurately positioning the images of the secondary filmsrelatively to the sprocket holes or other registering openings in therespective secondary films the registration of the 'complemental finalpositive images relatively to each other may be effected more easily andaccurately than in the case Where the final positive series are printeddirectly froman Original negative film bearing complemental serlesofnegatives, it bemg possible to correct irregularities in the positionsof the primary negativesrelatively to their registering openings inmaking the secondary films as for example by using a projection printerto print the secondary films.

While the present invention is applicable to color cinematography inthree or more .colors its application to two-color work will serve forthe purpose of illustration. A camera suitable for exposing a two-colornegative is disclosed in application 534,055, file-d February 4, 1922.comitantly to print separate films from the two-color negative film isdisclosed in ap plication Serial No. 512,399, filed Nov.- 2, 1921,although the respective series of images may if desired be printedSeparately in.a printer adapted to print only one seriesj at a time.

thus formedon the secondary films are prefprinted with a constant lightintensity.

Thus, insteadv of regulating the light throughout the printing of eachpositive film A printer adapted conordinarily re- As above statedtheposit'ive' images From the foregoing tives such as fast large-grainedprises forming primary (about one hundred positive films usually beingprinted) .it is necessary to regulate the light only throughout a singleprinting, namely, in printing the secondary films; 7 The presentinvention is particularly useful in the production of direct reliefposidisclosed in application Serial No, 512,202, filed November 2, 1921,where the positive films are exposed through the back and the relativelyunexposed portions of the emulsions are etched away leaving the exposedportions in relief, the reliefs being colored and projected in registryor used as matrices for imbibition printing. By employing relativelyslow small-grained stock for the secondary films they may be made lesslight scattering than the original negative; consequently in printingthrough the backs of the positive films, where light scatter is mostdestructive of definition due to the separation of the positive emulsionfrom the negative images by the thickness of the-celluloid-of thepositive film, the secondary filinsafiord better definition, otherfactors being the same, than would the original negative.

it will be evident that when using the method herein disclosed theprimary negative is used very little and may be preserved insubstantially its initial condition, and that substantially the entirerange -of color processes are available for use in coloring the 1 finalpositives.

1. The art of cinematography which comprises forming primary series ofcomplemental negative images, forming separate secondary negatives fromsaid series respectlvely by a printing process, varying the printinglight to compensate for irregularities in the'intensity of the primaryseries, and printing complemental positive series from said secondarynegatives. 1

2. The art of cinematography which comseries of complemental negativeimages, forming secondary negatives from said primary seriesrespectively by printing from the negatives and reversing the printedimages, varying the printing light to compensate for irregularihas inthe intensity of the primary series, and printing complemental positiveseries from said secondary negatives.

3. The art of cinematography which comprises forming complemental seriesof negative images, forming secondary films from said'seriesrespectively by a printing process, varying the printinglighttocompensate for irregularities in t e intensity of the negative series,photographically printing complemental positive series from saidsecondary films, and maintaining the printing light substantiallyconstant in. printing the positive-series.

4. The art of cinematography which comprises forming complemental seriesof negative images, forming secondary negative films from said seriesrespectively by printing from the negative images on separate films andreversing the printed images, and forming a positive film from saidsecondary negative films with the complemental positive images inregistry relative to each other.

5. The art of cinematography which comprisesforming complemental seriesof negative images concomitantly on the same film.

forming separate secondary films from said series respectively by aprinting process, varying the printing light to compensate forirregularities in the intensity of thenegative series and printingcomplemental positive series from said secondary films.

6'. The art of cinematography which comprises forming complementalseries of negative images concomitantly on the same film, formingseparate secondary negative films from said series respectively byprinting from the negative images and reversing the printed images, andprinting complementa positive series from said secondary negative 7. Theart of cinematography which comprises forming complemental series ofnegative images concomitantly onthe same forming separate secondarynegative films from said series respectively by printing fromthe'negative images and reversing the printed images, and forming apositive film from'said secondary negative films with the complementalpositive images in registry relative to each other,

8. The art of cinematography which comprisesforming complemental seriesof negativeimages concomitantly on the same film, forming separatesecondary negative films from said series respectively by printing fromthe negative images and reversing the printed images, varying theprinting light to compensate for irregularities in the intensity of thenegative series, and forming a positive film from said secondarynegative films with the complemental positive images in registryrelative to each other.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

this twenty-eighth day of December, 1922.

DANIEL F.. COMSTOGK.

